Visit a local farm stand for a vintage-looking egg carton, and store all your sewing basics in one lightweight, portable kit.

HOW-TO Cut a piece of material, such as ticking or gingham, the size of the egg carton's lid. Make the safety-pin cushion (see further instructions below), and hot glue the fabric to the carton. Cross-stitch the elastic to the fabric to hold sewing scissors; try Gingher's. Make the pin cushion and set in carton. Fill the carton with sewing notions; for everything from thread to batting, log on to purlsoho.com.

SCISSORS Create a place to hold your sewing scissors. Cut a piece of elastic 1 1/2 inches wide, and cross-stitch it to the fabric.

PIN CUSHION To make a pin cushion: Ball up batting. Wrap a piece of fabric tightly around the batting, and stitch the fabric closed.

SAFETY-PIN CUSHION Cut batting to fit the right half of the carton's lid. Place batting under the fabric, creating a cushion to use for safety pins.

Want a work space that's both functional and pretty? Clear an ample work surface, keeping it free of piles of paperwork and clutter. Items that you use regularly -- phone, computer, reference books, writing implements -- should be within reach, while none

Want a workspace that's both functional and pretty? Clear an ample work surface, keeping it free of piles of paperwork and clutter. Items that you use regularly — phone, computer, reference books, writing implements — should be within reach, while nonessentials can be neatly stowed on shelved or filed in drawers. To maximize space and for visual appeal, attach jelly jars to a shelf above your desk. Fill them with colorful craft and office supplies.

PROJECT 2

Space-saving storage shelf

Measure your shelf to determine the number of jelly jars to attach. Space them out evenly and mark their placement with a pencil.

HOW-TO Start with clean jelly jars. Turn the shelf over and position the jar lids along the underside of the shelf. Attach each lid securely with two small nails; if the lid is too loose, it will spin. Fill the jars with colorful office and craft supplies — check out seejanework.com — and twist onto the lids.

STEP 1 Empty a clean, sturdy shoebox. Measure and cut wallpaper or decorative fabric to its dimensions, wrapping the top and bottom pieces separately. Secure the material with spray adhesive.

STEP 2 On one long side of the box, measure and mark placement for four evenly spaced eyelet holes. Make the first hole about 3 inches in from the box's edge. Cut eyelet holes with an X-Acto knife. Repeat on the other long side, aligning holes so the wires cross through the box.

STEP 3 Purchase an extra-large eyelet kit from a hardware store, and fit the pieces using the manufacturer's directions as a guide. Feed the wires through both sets of holes and close the lid; recharge your gadgets.

SAFETY TIP

Keep electrical devices such as plugs and power strips outside the shoebox, to avoid risk of heating up or fire. For more safety tips, visit esfi.org.